Sealing cap for containers



Jan. 21, 1958 A. J. BmNN'IMAN 2,820,563

SEALING CAP FOR- CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L g INVENTOR. ALQEBT T- BRQNNHMANN Jan. 21, 1958 A. J. BRONNIMANN SEALING CAP FOR CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1956 INVENTOR.

ALBERT 2F E 2NN\ MAN N SEALING CAP FGR CONTAINERS Albert J.- Bronnimann, Lausanne, Switzerland Application August31, 1956, SerialNo. 607,347

9 Claims. (Cl. 215-41) This invention relates generallyto closure caps and is more particularly concerned with a novel sea-ling cap for heretofore be described in detail may be incorporated and used on a container having a relatively large open upper end.

A primary object of invention in conformance with that set forth is to provide a novel sealing cap for bottles or the like includinga body member incorporating a top portion continuing in an annular skirt having a lower edge portion deformable into gripping engagement with an annular ribextending around the upper peripheral edge of a container to be sealed, said sealing cap incor porating a deformable ball element" beneath the topportion thereof for sealing engagement in the upper open end of acontainer to be sealed, said body" member including a pressure deformable section collapsible due to the exertion of pressure by ones hands or fingers exteriorl'y of the sealing cap wherein the same may be readily and expeditiously removed from the container.

A further object of invention in conformance with that set forth is to provide a novel sealing cap incorporating deformable thinned out sections which are readily displaced due to the application of external pressure on the body member of the sealing cap wherein the lower gripping edge of the annular skirt of the body member of the sealing cap may be displaced outwardly from a container with which it is engaged permitting the contents of said container to be readily available.

A still further object of invention in conformance with that set forth is to provide a novel sealing cap of the character involved wherein the deformable ball element of said sealing cap is sealingly engaged with the upper end of the container with which the sealing, cap is used after said cap has been disposed in a position of removal from the container wherein accidental escape of the con,- tents of the container might occur.

'And yet further objects of invention in conformance with that set forth is to provide a plurality of novel sealing caps incorporating the basic principles of the invention, said objects of invention being directed to the specific structural details of the various disclosed embodiments.

And still further objects of invention are to providenovel sealing caps of the character involved which are readily and economically manufactured, easily used, and highly satisfactory, practical and acceptable for the purpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages-which will subsequently become apparent reside in the'details,

of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accom- 2,820,563 Patented Jan. 21, 1958 ice panying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of the upper end portion of a container having one embodiment of the novel sealing cap disposed thereon;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the novel sealing cap of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan View looking substantially from line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view, similar to Figure 1, showing by means of phantom lines the manner in which pressure has. been applied to a sealing cap disposed in. the. manner shown in Figure 1, wherein said sealing cap is displaced for removal from the container;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view, similar to Figure 1', showing another embodiment of the novel sealing cap;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 9-9 of Figure 8, showing. by means of phantom lines for manner in which the sealing cap may be deformed Figures 1 through 6, a fragmentaryporti'onof a containen' such as a small necked bottle is' indicated generally at 10, said bottle having sealingly engaged thereon the novel sealing cap 12 comprising the invention.

The sealing cap 12' may be constructed of any suitable material, plastic, metal or the like, andincludes a deformable annular body member 14 includinga topportion 16 including a depending annular skirt 1'8, terminan" ing in an inwardly deformable lower edge portion 20 for grippingly engaging an annular rib'2-2 extending about the upper outer peripheral edge of the neck portion 24 of the bottle 10.

The sealing cap will be placed on the upper end of the container 10- by means of any suitable apparatus designed for this purpose.

The top portion 16 of the body member is substantially circular, see Figure 2-, the body member having integral therewith a plurality of uniformly disposed and radially extending thinned out sections 24 being located in diametrically opposed pairs as clearly seen in Figure 2, for example, and continuing into the annular skirt 1-8 and terminating in the lower edge 20 of the sealing cap. Extending toward the central portion 16 of the body member 14, from-the lower gripping edge 20in the thinned out; sections 24 are notch portions 26 for defining a tear portion 28, see Figure 5.

Integral with the bodymember 14 on the inner surface thereof in uniformly disposed radially extending relationship between adjacent thinned out sections 24 are abutment ribs 30, see Figure 3, which include a lower abutment edge portion 32 extending angularly into the inner surface of theannular skirt 18. As-clearly seen in Figure 3, the abutment ribs 30 engage the outer upper edge portion of the container 10, and as seen in Figure 6, provide an axis of rotation at 34 in a manner to subsequently be described in detail.

Disposed. beneath, the central portion 16 of the body member 14, and adhesively secured thereto, if desired, is a deformable or displaceable ball element 36 of rubber, plastic or any other suitable material, which sealingly engages at 38 the open upper end of the container 10.

Thus when applying external pressure downwardly on the top portion 16 of the body member 114, by means of ones finger or the palm of ones hand, for example, the tear portions 28 are formed in the thinnedout sections 24,

and each of the sections 49 defined by the radiallyextend ing thinned out sections 24 will be extended outwardly away from the outer periphery of the container, the ball element 36 being deformed substantially in the manner shown in Figure 6. When the sealing cap is disposed in the position shown in Figure 6, it may be readily removed from the upper end of the container 10, however, conventing the accidental escape of liquid, for example, con-.

tinued pressure may be applied on the sealing cap for prefor example, as seen in Figure 7, and extendible beneath the annular rib 62 of the container 50.

The sealing cap 52'may be constructed of any suitable material, a light weight sheet metal material, being readily acceptable for the formation of this sealing cap. The sealing cap 52 may be applied on the top of the container 50 by means of any suitable apparatus designed for this purpose.

Extending diametrically across the top 56 of the body member 54 is a diamond shaped aperture portion 64 converging at opposite ends 66 and 68 intermediately of the annular skirt 58, the converging side edges being relieved by means of an enlarged arcuate cut-out portion 70 facilitating the deformation of the sealing cap as seen in Figure 8, shown at the phantom lines. Extending upwardly through the lower edge 60 of the body member 54 are notch portions 72 which are in alignment with the terminal ends of the slot portion 64 and defined therebetween a deformable pivot portion 74 facilitating the removal of the sealing cap from the container 50 as shown by the phantom lines in Figure 9. Integral with the top 56 and extending transversely of the slot 64 is a bendable or deformable strip element 76 which is also frangible and which may be severed as shown by the phantom lines of Figure 9. The strip element 76 is arcuate, see Figure 9, extending over one end of a deformable or displaceable ball element 36 similar to that mentioned in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 6, said ball element performing the identical function as that described in the previously described embodiment.

By applying the fingers of ones hand on opposite sides of the sealing cap at the intersection between the top portion and annular skirt and urging said fingers toward each other, the sealing cap will be pivoted about the pivot portions 74 in the manner shown by the phantom lines of Figure 9, the ball element 36 being held in sealing engagement with the upper end of the container 50, and readily removed therefrom when desired.

Considering Figures 10 through 12, another embodiment of the invention similar to that of Figures 7 through 9- is shown. The container indicated generally at 80 incorporates an annular rib element 82 about its'upper edge, and has grippingly disposed thereon the sealing cap indicated generally at 84.

The sealing cap 84 includes a body member 86 having a top portion 8% continuing as an annular skirt 90, the lower edge portion 92 of which being inwardly defonnable to grippingly engage the annular rib 82 of the container 80. The body member 86 includes in the top portion 88 a diametrical thinned out section 94 which is readily de formable as seen in Figure 12, for example, said thinned out section 94 converging at opposite ends 96 and 98 intermediately of the annular skirt 90. Extending upwardly through the lower edge 92 of the body member 86 are notch portions 100, see Figures 11 and 12, which are in alignment with the converging terminal ends of the thinned out section 94, and which terminate short thereof defining deformable pivot portions 102 about which the opposite sides of the sealing cap will pivot in the manner 7 shown in Figure 12 when deformed due to the application of pressure on integral upwardly-extending abutment elements 104 and 106 disposed on opposite sides of the thinned out section 94.

Disposed beneath the thinned out section 94, and adhesively secured thereto, if desired, is a deformable ball element 36 similar to that of the previously described embodiments.

. Thus there has been disclosed a plurality of embodiments of the novel sealing cap which fully conform with the objects of invention heretofore set forth.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 1 principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,

and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use on a container including an open top hav-l ing an annular rib extending circumferentially about the I outer peripheral upper edge thereof; a sealing cap comprising a deformable annular body member including a top portion having a depending annular skirt terminating 1 in an inwardly deformable edge for disposition in gripping relationship beneath the annular rib of a container upon which the sealing cap is mounted, a deformable ball element disposed beneath the top portion of said body member for sealingly engaging and providing pivot means on the open top of the container, said body member including a pressure deformable section, externally applied pressure on the top portion of said body member deforming the ball element outwardly toward the inner surface of the annular skirt and urging the skirt and the gripping 'edge portion outwardly from the outer periphery of the container permitting ready removal of the sealing cap therefrom.

2. In a sealing cap as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaidi body member includes diametrically opposed deformable portions transversely of the annular skirt for permitting opposite sides of the body member to pivot away from the upper edge of the container upon which the sealing cap is disposed.

3. In a sealing cap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said top portion includes an uninterrupted central portion overlying the deformable ball element, and a plurality of uniformly disposed radially extending thinned out frangible sections extending diametrically from opposite sides of the central portion-into the lower edge of the 5. In a sealing cap as set forth in claim 3 wherein said 1 body member includes an integral radially disposed abutment rib on the inner surface of the top portion between each adjacent pair of radially extending thinned out s'ections, said abutment ribs including a lower abutment edge portion extending angularly toward the annular skirt. for

in claim 3 whereinsaid engaging the upper edge of the container upon which the sealing cap is mounted.

6. In a sealing cap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the top portion includes a diametrical aperture therethrough converging at opposite ends at opposed intermediate portions of the annular skirt, notch portions extending into the lower edge of the annular skirt in alignment with the terminal end portions of the diametrical aperture, said notch portion terminating short of the ends of the diametrical aperture portion defining therebetween a deformable pivot portion wherein opposed sections of the cap defined by said diametrical aperture may be pivoted toward each other due to external pressure applied on the outer surface of the top portion of the body member.

7. In a sealing cap as set forth in claim 6 wherein said body member includes an integral bendable portion extending transversely of the diametrical aperture in overlying relationship on the upper surface of the deformable ball element.

8. In a sealing cap as set forth in claim 7 wherein said body member comprises a sheet metal material, the bendable portion comprising a frangible arcuate strip element.

9. In a sealing cap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the body member comprises a bendable material, an integral diametrical thinned out section converging at opposite ends in intermediate portions of the annular skirt on opposite sides of said body member, notch portions extending into the lower edge of the annular skirt in alignment with the terminal ends of the diametrical thinned out section, said notch portions terminating short of the ends of the diametrical thinned out section defining therebetween deformable pivot portions for opposed sections of the body member defined by said diametrical thinned out section, abutment elements extending integrally from the upper surface of the body member on opposite sides of the diametrical thinned out section for providing means whereby finger pressure can be applied on opposite sides of the body member for urging said abutment elements toward each other and pivoting the opposite sections about the deformable pivot portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 800,867 Mulvaney Oct. 3, 1905 891,109 Speece June 16, 1908 1,454,510 Heiter May 8, 1923 2,659,508 Nygaard Nov. 17, 1953 

